Control device



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United States Patent() GQNTRGL DEVICE Philip R Bloomington, 1nd-, assigner to Mil- ,waukee `Gas Specialty Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation f Wisconsin Application May 24, 1951, Serial No. 228,063

Claims- LCL 1158-23) This invent-ion relates, in general, to control devices, and has particular relation to an improved valve for controlling the Asupply of liquid fuel to a stove or other burner for heating, for example, a -tent or other portable .shelter or the like.

-One ofthe main o'biects of the present invention is 4to `provide for supplying an initial measured priming charge orishot of gasoline or other liquid Vfuel to the burner for starting.

Anotherobj'ect of the invention is .to provide for thereafter supplying fuel to the burner for heating purposes.

Another object of the invention is -to provide `in a de- `vice of lt-he character described a thermoelectric .safety shut-off, and, more specifically, a thermoelectric safety shut-oli? `with flow interruptor means for interrupting the flow of fuel during the operation of resetting the thermoelect-ric safety shut-ofi; also `upon .extinguishment of the burner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a .device `of the character described having features vand advantages set forth and provided with improved means for regu.- lating the 'flow of fuel to the burner.

l Another object of the invention i s to provide, in .a device of the character described, a valve body, and means defining -a passageway and comprising a valve seat member and a valve closure member cooperating in first positions of the members to yClose the :passageway and with the valve seat and closure members having movement from Ytheir first positions to second positions with the members in cooperation to Aclose .the passageway 4dur-ing such movement.

Another object of the invention is -to provide means, and, more particularly, an armature and an electromagnet connected in circuit with a thermoelectric generator for holding one of the valve seat and closure members -in its second position, and means for returning `.the .other'member toits first position to separate it from the `cooperating 2,718,918 Patented Sept. 27, 1.955

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2 tions of the linvention rwill be apparent from the following detailed description and `the accomp'auying drawing -which the single )figure is an axial Asectional view through a control device embodying the present invention; also showing Adiagrar-nr-natically a connected burner, a gravity fuel feed for the burner, and 'a thermoelectric generator connected'incircuit with the electromagnet of the control device and 'positioned where it is responsive to the heat of the burner.

Referring now -to the drawing, the embodiment of the invention selected 'for illustration comprises a tubular vvalve body 1 having -a 4fuel -in-let 2 and La fuel outlet 3,.

I-n the Aparticular device selected for illustration, the valve is gravity Ifed from "a liquid fuel 'tank 4, disposed yat -.a higher, level by a fuel supply pipe 5. A fuel supply pipe 6 leads to `the burner *7 `from the outlet 3 for 4the delivery of liquid fuel vto the burner. The burner 7 may be the burner Vof ra stove for heating, for example, a tent or other Apor-table shelter, or it may be any lother suitable burner.

A plunger 8 is mounted for -reciprocatory sliding movement in the interior of the *body "1, and is provided within its length with a reduced -portion forming an vannular liquid fuel 4receiving cavity I9. The plunger 8 has a first 4position -as shown in `the drawing, with the cavity 9 in communication with a port 10 opening from the inlet 2 `to `receive a measured prim-ing charge or shot of liquid fuel, yand -is movable inwardly to a second position with the cavity 19 out of communication with the inlet port '1,0 and in communication -with Aan outlet -port k11 which opens into xthe outlet '3 ffor delivering the measured charge of fuel to the "burner 7. i

Before cav-ity 9 can -be `filled with fuel, the air must be allowed Eto escape therefrom. For this purpose a hollow fitting i2 is screwed, at '13, into the valve `body 1 in position so `that yits `inner end will open from the cavity 9 when the plunger '8 is in 4the position shown in the drawing. A valve stem A14 has reciprocatory movement .in an `axial opening '15 in the lit-ting =12. The inner end of Athe stem 14 carries a valve member -16 which is seated -a-gainst a valve seat -17 by la Vspring 1S coiled about the outer .end `of the stem 14 `and acting between the outer end of the fitting -12 and a cup-shaped :knob 19 attached, for example, Iby a screw 20 to the outer end of the stem '14. A vent opening 21 opens outwardly from the space 2,2 formed by reducing the cross-section of the adjacent portion yof Ithe stem 14,V

member when said member fis held in its second yposition whereby to open the passageway.

Another object of the invention is to provide a .device of the character described wherein .the valve :body has an inlet and an outlet, and wherein there is means defining a fluid-,receiving cavity .positioned in :the first positions ofthe valve seat and closure member-s yto receive a :111.63.5- ured charge of fluid from the inlet -and :which cavity is positioned in the second positions of the .Valve Seat .and closure members out of .Comunication with the inlet and in l`co mmunication with :the outlet for discharging the measured charge of fluid through the outlet.

Another object lof 4the invention is to provide a device of the. character described wherein `the passageway communicates with `the outlet -for the liiow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet when the valve Seat and Closure members are separated- Another object of the invention is to 4provide in a device of the character described, means for venting entrapped air from the iiuid receiving cavity.

'Further features and advantages and numerous adapta- Sealing rings 23 and24a're mounted in annular grooves -in :the periphery of .the plu-nger `8, one beyond each of the opposite .ends of the-cavity =9 -to seal lthe device against ow or leakage of liquid fuel along the cooperating surfaces of the plunger .8 and valve bod-y 1. `The rings 23 and 24 Lare preferably formed of material having suitable resistance to the liquid fuel employed.

The Aplunger 8 'has aport 25 which opens from the cavity V9 into an axial passageway 26 in the plunger. A valve seat member 27 is mounted in the innerend of the plunger .8 and has a passageway 2,8 lcoaxial with the passageway fand forming ,a `continuation thereof, `as will presently appear. The enlarged,.outer end of -the `valve seat member 27 is counterhored nat29- to receive the taperedend of `a valve ,closure member .30 which cooperates with an annular valveiseat `3.1 .in the valve Seat member 27 to close the passageway 26, 28.

The valve ,closure ,member 30 yis `attached at 32 to a .Stem .3.3, An ,armature 341is mounted on the Opposite end of the uSteur; 4`3,3 for 4movement to attracted .and retracted positions relative to the pole ends .of the magnet .frame 35 of yan electromagnet 36 with accompanying rectilinear movement of stem 33- and valve closure member 30, .as will presently appear. The attachment ofthe armature 34 to the stem 33 is preferably of a character to permit self'- accommodation of the armature to the pole faces of the magnet frame 35 when the armature is in attracted position.

Screwed or otherwise secured in one end of the valve body 1 is a magnet mounting nut 38. The electromagnet 36 is enclosed within an inner shell 39 and comprises the magnet frame 35 secured, for example, to a terminal bushing 40. A coil is provided at 41. The bushing 40 is clamped in place, for example, by a nut 42 and has a threaded opening for receiving an attaching nut 43 of a thermoelectric generator lead. The lead comprises line conductors 44 and 45 which may be concentric or of other suitable form, connected in circuit at one end with the thermoelectric generator elements 46 and 47 of the thermoelectric generator 48. The elements 46 and 47 are joined at 49 to form the hot junction which is heated by the ame of the burner 7. The opposite end of the lead conductor 45 has a connector cone 50 which is clamped in contact with a terminal tip 51 by the nut 43. The other conductor 44 is connected in circuit with one side of the coil 41, and the other side of the coil is connected to the lead conductor 45 through the terminal tip 40.

While the thermoelectric generator 48 is shown in the form of a thermocouple, it may be in the form of a thermopile or of any other suitable form.

A needle valve 54 extends axially through the passageway 26 with an annular space between it and the passage- Way. The needle valve 54 has a tapered inner end which is adjustably cooperable with the adjacent end of the passageway 28 and the stem of the needle valve has adjustable screwed engagement at 55 with the plunger 8, and has attached to its outer end, at 56', a starting knob 56. The position of the tapered inner end of the needle valve 54 is adjusted by turning the knob 56 to control the rate of flow of fuel to the burner. In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, a ow rate of to about 1/2 gallon of `liquid fuel per hour is satisfactory. The knob 56 encloses a gland nut 58 which is screwed in the end of the valve body 1 and compresses packing 59 about the adjacent portion of the needle valve stem 54.

A coiled spring 69 is interposed between the inner end of the shell 39 and an abutment disc 61 on the stem 33 and acts to move the closure member 30 to closed position against the valve seat 31 when the armature 34 is released from the electromagnet 36. Another coiled spring 63 is interposed between the inner end of the shell 39 and the inner end of the plunger 8, and acts to return the plunger to the position shown in the drawing when it is released after being pressed inwardly to perform the starting operation. A screw 64 is screwed through the wall of the valve body 1 and has an inner end 65 which engages in a longitudinally extending groove 66 in the valve body 1 to prevent turning of the plunger 8 in the valve body.

The operation of the device is as follows:

With the plunger 8 in the position shown in the drawing, the knob 19 is pressed inwardly, thus opening the passage around the valve 16 and the annular space 22. This permits entrapped air to escape from cavity 9 through the ventopening 21. Assuming that the pipe is open where, for example, there is a valve (not shown) in this pipe, gasoline'or other liquid fuel is admitted to the cavity 9 and lls the same to provide a measured starting charge of fuel in the cavity 9. When knob 19 is released, the spring 18 causes the valve 16 to close.

Now when the knob 56 is pushed inwardly, it moves the plunger 8 from the rst position shown in the drawing to a second position, with the cavity 9 out of communication with the inlet port and in communication with the outlet port 11. The plunger 8 then has discharge relation with the outlet port 11, and the measured amount of fuel is delivered to the burner 7 for starting the same. The burner 7 may be ignited with a match, taper, or otherwise as desired, and heats the hot junction or junctions of the thermoelectric generator V48.

When the knob 56 is pressed inwardly, the valve seat 31 is in engagement with the valve closure member 3 0, thereby closing the passageway 26, 28 against the ow of fuel therethrough. The engagement of the valve seat 31 with valve closure member 30 moves the armature 34 to attracted position relative to the magnet frame 35 with the inward movement of knob 56.

When the thermoelectric generator 48 has been heated by the burning of the initial or priming charge of fuel, the electromagnet 36 is energized and holds the armature 34 in attracted position and the valve closure member 30 against following the valve seat 31 in the return movement of the plunger 8 to the position shown in the drawing when the knob 56 is released. When the armature 34 is held in attracted position, the knob 56 is released. This release of the knob 56 allows spring 63 to return the plunger 8 to the position shown in the drawing, thus uncovering inlet port 10 so that the cavity 9 may receive the succeeding measured charge of fuel for priming the burner.

When the plunger 8 returns to the position shown in the drawing, with the armature 34 held in attracted position and valve closure member 30 held against following the plunger 8, the valve seat 31 separates from the valve closure member, thus opening the passageway 26, 28. Fuel may now ilow through port 10, cavity 9, port 25, passageways 26, 2S, the interior of valve body 1 to the left of the inner end of the plunger 8 as the device is shown in the drawing, and out through an outlet port 70 and outlet 3 to the burner 7. As previously set forth, turning of the knob 56 turns the needle valve stem 54 to adjust the position of its tapered end relative to the valve seat at the adjacent end of the passageway 28 to control the rate of llow of fuel to the burner.

. ln case of ame failure, the hot junction or junctions of the thermoelectric generator cool, the electromagnet 36 is deenergized or its energization reduced, and spring 60 closes valve 30. This stops or shuts off the ow of fuel to the burner.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be expressly understood that said drawing and the accompanying specication are not to be construed as a definition of the limits or scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

I claim:

l. A control device for controlling ow of fluid com prising a valve body having a fluid inlet and a iluid outlet, a first member biased to retracted position in said valve body and movable to a second position, means for holding said rst member in said second position, a second member biased to released position in said valve body and movable to a second position, said first member when in retracted position coacting with said second member for movement of said first member to its second position by'movernent of said second member to its second position, said second member having a uid receiving cavity positioned in register with said inlet when said second member is in its released position and movable out of register with said inlet and into register with said outlet by movement of said second member to its second position, said second member having a passageway placing said inlet in communication with said outlet when said rst member is held in its second position and said second member returns to its released position, and valve means shutting off communication between said inlet and said outlet through said passageway when said rst member is in position coacting with said second member.

2. A control device for controlling flow of fluid comprising a valve body having a uid inlet and a iluid outlet, a rst member biased to retracted position in said valve body and movable to a second position, means for holding said first member in said second position, a second member I biased to released position in said valve body and movable to a second position, said first member when in retracted position coacting with said second member for movement ofn said first member to its second position by movement of said second member to its second position, said second member having a fluid receiving cavity positioned in register with said inlet when said second member is in its released position and movable out of register with said inlet and into register with said outlet by movement of said second member to its second position, said second member having a passageway placing said inlet in communication with said outlet when said first member is held in its second position and said second member returns to its released position, valve means shutting olf communication between said inlet and said outlet through said passageway when said first member is in position coacting with said second member, and means for venting entrapped air from said fluid receiving cavity.

3. A control device for controlling flow of fluid comprising a valve body having a uid inlet and a fluid outlet, a first member biased to retracted position in said valve body and movable to a second position, means for holding said rst member in said second position, a second member in the form of a plunger having sliding movement in said valve body and biased to released position in said valve body and movable to a second position, said rst member when in retracted position coacting with said plunger for movement of said first member to its second position by movement of said plunger to its second position, said plunger having a fluid receiving cavity formed by an annular groove opening from the outer periphery of the plunger with plunger portions on opposite ends of said groove in sliding and sealed cooperation with the inner periphery of said valve body, said uid receiving cavity being positioned in register with said inlet when said plunger is in its released position and movable out of register with said inlet and into register with said outlet by movement of said plunger to its second position, said plunger having a passageway placing said inlet in communication with said outlet when said iirst member is held in its second position and said plunger returns to its released position, and valve means shutting off communication between said inlet and said outlet through said passageway when said first member is in the position coacting with said plunger.

4. A control device for controlling ilow of lluid comprising a valve body having a uid inlet and a Huid outlet, a iirst member biased to retracted position in said valve body and movable to a second position, means for holding said first member in said second position, a second member in the form of a plunger having sliding movement in said valve body and biased to released position in said valve body and movable to a second position, said first member when in retracted position coacting with said plunger for movement ofl said rst member to its second position by movement of said plunger to its second position, said plunger having a uid receiving cavity formed by an annular groove opening from the outer periphery of the plunger with plunger portions on opposite ends of said groove in sliding and sealed cooperation with the inner periphery of said valve body, said Huid receiving cavity being positioned in register with said inlet when said plunger is in its released position and movable out of register with said inlet and into register with said outlet by movement of said plunger to its second position, said plunger having a passageway placing said inlet in communication with said outlet when said first member is held in its second position and said second member returns to its released position, valve means shutting off communication between said inlet and said outlet through said passageway when said first member is in position coacting with said plunger, and an adjusting stem adjustable in said plunger for adjusting the rate of uid flow through said passageway.

5. A control device for fluid fuel burning apparatus having a burner comprising an armature movable to attracted and retracted positions, an electromagnet adapted a thermoelectric generator connected in circuit with said electromagnet and adapted when heated to energize said electromagnet, reset means movable in resetting direction to reset said armature into attracted position and movable to released position, a movable member having a cavity for receiving a measured priming charge of fuel when said reset means is in released position and movable with said reset means to deliver said measured priming charge to said burner by movement of said reset means in resetting direction, said device also including meansl for delivering a running supply of fuel to said burner but only when said armature is held in attracted position and said reset means returns to released position, and means operable to shut off the running supply of fuel for said burner by movement of said armature to retracted position.

6. A control device according to claim 5 wherein the means operable to shut oif the running supply of fuel to said burner by movement of said armature to retracted position also operates to shut off said running supply of fuel for said burner during resetting movement of said reset means and until said armature is held in attracted position by said electromagnet and said reset means returns to released position.

7. A control device for uid fuel burning apparatus having a burner comprising a valve body having a iluid fuel inlet and a fluid fuel outlet, a rst member biased to retracted position and movable to attracted position, an electromagnet adapted when energized to hold said rst member in attracted position and when deenergized to release said iirst member for movement to retracted position, a thermoelectric generator adapted to be heated by said burner and connected in circuit with said elecytromagnet to energize the same as long as the thermoelectric generator is heated by the burner flame, a second member biased to released position in said valve body and movable to a second position, said iirst member when in retracted position coacting with said second member for movement of said first member to its attracted position by movement of said second member to its second position, said second member having a fluid fuel receiving cavity positioned in register with said inlet to receive a priming charge of fuel for said burner when said second burner is in released position and movable out of register with said inlet and into register with said outlet for delivering the priming charge of fuel to said outlet by movement of said second member to its second position, said second member having a passageway placing said inlet in communication with said outlet for delivery for a running supply of fuel for said burner when said first member is held in its second position and said second member -returns to released position, and valve means shutting off communication between said inlet and said outlet through said passageway when said iirst member is in position coacting with said second member.

8. A control device according to claim 7 wherein said second member is in the form of a plunger with enlarged plunger portions having sealed sliding cooperation with the inner periphery of said valve body and spaced to form an annular cavity therebetween for receiving the priming charge of fuel, and means for venting entrapped air from said cavity.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 804,468 Helmold Nov. 14, 1915 1,395,753 Wehle Nov. 1, 1921 1,834,287 McCabe Dec. 1, 1931 y2,257,927 Wunsch Oct. 7, 1941 2,318,767 Engholdt May 11, 1943 2,425,161 Optiz Aug. 5, 1947 2,496,036 Christensen Jan. 3l, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 254,084 Great Britain July 1, 1926 

